Algeria Determined to Pursue Development

Source: Algeria Times 11/1/2015, Location: Africa

Algeria is "determined to pursue" development efforts despite the decline in oil revenues since it “has the necessary assets” to overcome this “difficult conjuncture”, President of the Republic Abdelaziz Bouteflika stressed Saturday.

"We are determined to pursue this national development effort despite the world hydrocarbon crisis that costs us half of our external revenues and could last for some time due to economic and geopolitical factors", President Bouteflika stated in a message on the occasion of the 61 anniversary of the outbreak of the 1 November 1954 Revolution.

Algeria “has strengths to overcome this difficult stage and pursue its economic and social achievements, mainly the training of youth, basic infrastructures, a respectable industrial network and agricultural, mining and tourism potentials,” he added.

Referring to some examples of the main socio-economic achievements materialized by Algeria since 1999, the Head of State noted the decline in the housing crisis thanks to the building of million homes, while the education system has received more than 3,000 secondary schools and the university now hosts more than a million and a half students.

Besides, unemployment fell sharply and economic investment "has progressed although it is not at the level of our expectations yet," he said.

For the President of the Republic, "our strengths also lie in the tradition of dialogue between economic and social partners, enabling them to forge consensus to support the necessary economic reforms and sustain social justice and national solidarity".

In this context, he called on Algerians to win the battle of productivity and competitiveness in order to safeguard economic independence and sovereignty.

The challenge for the Head of State is to "safeguard the country's economic sovereignty and independence, support to these advantages, the integration of Algeria in the globalization that does not tolerate weakness," President Bouteflika affirmed.